sargent



No. 6l4,|3|. Patented Nov. l5; I898.

E. R. SARGENT.

BOX 'FASTENEB'.

(Application filed Feb. 9, 1898.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR. WITNESSES A TTORNE as UNITED STATES PATENT @EEICE E.

EDWARD R. SARGENTLOF NEW HAVE ooNNEo'rIoUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SARGENT &COMPANY, or SAME PLACE.

B'oX-FAs'TENEE.

srncn ren'rron forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,181, datedNoven'ltet 15*, mos.

Application filed February 9,1898. Serial No. 669,683. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD R. SARGENT, of the city and county of NewHaven, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Box-Fasteners, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part thereof, and in Which I Figure 1 representsa box-fastener embodying my invention as applied to the lid of a boxshown in side elevationand in its locked position. Fig; 2 is a similarview of the catch itself when in its open position; and Figs.

3 and 4, a horizontal and a vertical section.

through the catch on lines 3 3 and 4 4 of Fig. 1, respectively.

In all figures similar letters of reference represent like parts.

This invention relates to fasteners for boxes, and is more particularlyapplicable to" A are driven or otherwise secured two staples B and B,while a flat L-shaped hook O is attached to the lid a and adapted toengage with the staple B and hold theend of the lid near which it isplaced from being raised. The lid may, however, obviously be released bysliding it horizontally to the right, Fig. 1.

The catch, which is secured by screws or other means to the lid a nearits other end, is formed of two plates, one of which, the stationary orbase plate D, is provided with two lateral extensions d, adapted to formon opposite sides the barbs or bights for engagement with the staple Band with a vertical slot d. The second or movable plate E is alsoprovided with oppositely-extending lateral projections e, on the underside of which are shoulders e, which constitute hooks or catches, whilebeyond the shoulders e the lower edge of the plate is beveled, as shownat e in Figs. 1 and 2. The plate E is made U-shaped along its centralline to form a socket F with the base-plate D, while on its lower andupper ends are lips or flanges f and f, turnedinward to close the endsof the socket F. The flange f is equal in length to the depth of thesocket F, (see Fig. 4,) while the flangef is slightly longer to projectinto the slot d. On the face of the plate E is a slot or opening 6 intothe interior of the socket, and a stud G projects therethrough and issecured to the base-plate D. Y

A spring H is fitted into the socket F be tween the flange f and stud Gand normally tends to force the plate E downward on the plate D untilthe movement of the plateE is checked by the stud in the slot 6 or theflange f in the slot (1. When the plate E is in this its normalposition, the outer ends of the beveled surfaces 6 are above the loweredge of the bights d, as shown in Fig. 1, so that any pressure exertedby the staple along the lower edge of the rigid or base plate D willtend to raise the outer plate E against the tension of the spring untilthe shoulder e is reached, when the spring will force the plate Edownward and the shoulder engage and securely lock the staple. Torelieve the staple, pressure on the lower end of the plate E raises it,and as this movable plate is on the outside there is no difficulty inreaching it nor necessity of placing the finger in any slot or openingto operate the latch.

The plate E is guided in its movement at two points, (where the flange fextends into the slot d and where the stud G projectsthrough opening 2and therefore is limited strictly to a vertical movement and preventedfrom any tendency to rotate if the pressure is exerted at one side orthe other of the central line.

The two bights allow the device to be used either as a right or lefthand catch, and the whole tool being composed of substantially but twopieces of sheet metal with a spring is readily manufactured andassembled with a minimum expenditure of labor or cost.

Having now described my invention, which may vary without departing fromthe spirit thereof, what I claim, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. A box-fastener consisting of an inner plate adapted to be secured tothe box-lid or other article, having a laterally-projecting hook; anouter plate mounted on said inner plate having a lateral projectionprovided with a catch and a centrally-disposed socket, said outer platebeing secured to said inner plate so that it is capable of only alimited vertical movement thereon; a spring located in said socketconstantly tending to force said outer plate downward on said innerplate; and mechanism on said box or other article adapted to be engagedby said hook and held in engagement by said catch, substantially asdescribed.

2. A box-fastener consisting of an inner plate adapted to be secured tothe box-lid or other article having oppositely-projecting lat eralhooks; an outer plate having similarly disposed projections providedwith catches, and a centrally-located socket, said outer plate beingmounted on and secured to said inner plate so that it is capable of onlyalimited vertical movement thereon; a spring lo cated in said sockettending to force said outer plate downward on said inner plate; andmechanism on said box or other article adapted to be engaged by saidhook and held in engagement by said catch, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of February,A. D., 1898.

EDWARD R. SARGENT. Witnesses:

WILLIAM S. CooKE, CHARLES L. BALDWIN.

